(Minghui.org) The annual Minnesota State Fair attracted 1.8 million visitors from local and surrounding states with its various selections of food, entertainment and diversity of cultures. Local Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the fair to help people understand Falun Dafa, and to expose the ongoing brutal persecution in China.
The fair, first held in 1859, was held in St. Paul this year from August 21 through Labor Day.
Learning the Falun Dafa exercises
Falun Dafa exercise demonstration on stage
Practitioners stood near entrances to collect signatures on a petition calling for an end to the systematic forced organ harvesting from living Falun Dafa practitioners in China. More than 10,000 people signed the petition over the 12 days of the fair.
Some people had already heard of organ harvesting atrocities in China and immediately signed the petition. Some commented that what was going on was “evil” and “unbelievable,” expressing great shock. Others said they would have believed that this could only have happened in a science fiction movie.
Practitioners explained that Falun Dafa teaches people to follow the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance” and that China's communist regime launched a nationwide crackdown of Falun Dafa in July 1999 because the Party felt it was a threat to their power. They explained how evidence suggests that that tens of thousands of practitioners have been killed for their organs.
Many came to the fair with their families. Often when one member of the family heard the truth about the persecution, he or she would call the rest of the family to sign the petition. Groups of teens came and wanted to sign, as well.
One man said, “This forced organ harvesting matter is so important. I wish that more people would be aware of it, and stand together against the CCP.”
The Falun Dafa Club of the Twin Cities, a student club at the University of Minnesota, had a booth for seven days at the University of Minnesota exhibition hall at the State Fair. Many stopped to watch the peaceful exercise demonstrations. Some learned the exercises on the spot, while others took a flier listing local practice sites.
One practitioner greeted a senior lady who said that she knew a lot about Falun Dafa. She took the hand of the practitioner and said, “I want to tell you that you have my sympathy. Please remember, people truly care about you!”
One lady didn't understand why practitioners who were jailed and tortured in the Chinese labor camps refused to renounce their beliefs, since the regime would let them go if they did. It was explained that when 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance' becomes a part of your intrinsic character, it is a betrayal to yourself if you abandon it.” The lady nodded and said, “Yes, the spiritual part is an important aspect of the practice.”
One lady commented after a conversation with a practitioner at the booth, “I believe in 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance'. When everything is over, no matter who you are or what you can do, you will understand this is the most important thing.”
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